“I no longer feel useful and life is no longer interesting”: At 95, Colette will resort to euthanasia: Femme Actuelle Le MAG

It’s hard to have days where you just play bridge. I no longer feel useful for anything and what’s more, life no longer presents any interest…”, confides Colette Menasge. At 95, she made the choice to resort to euthanasia. She wanted to carry out the operation in Switzerland and this is how she shares her vision of old age and explains her choice.

Colette does not wish to prolong her existence

Indeed, the nonagenarian believes she was lucky to live “pretty much correctly so far“. As she says, from now on her wish is: “die slowly“. To carry out the operation, she chose Switzerland, which practices euthanasia, unlike France. Furthermore, Colette clearly states that we cannot say we are really ready. Only, we can have problems such that one no longer wishes to live. This can be a serious pathology or even incurable illnesses, for which there is no way out and the best solution seems to be to shorten the suffering.

Old age is a matter of our personal reactions. I believe that extreme old age is of no interest“, she says. She says she spends days completely empty and of no use to anyone. Euthanasia is a personal choice. According to her, people think, from an outside point of view, that she is experiencing a wonderful old age. This would be justified by the place in which she grows old or even thanks to those around her: “I have a lovely family“. However, Colette does not wish to prolong her existence. Given her age, her eyesight is getting worse and worse, she can no longer read or use the computer. His hearing is also deteriorating.

“Everyone must feel free to choose their end of life”

Having volunteered at the Jeanne Garnier center, one of the best palliative care centers according to her, Colette took care of people at the end of their lives. Despite the very good care that the patients received, she could not help but see up close that many were still suffering. This is how she decided not to want to experience these very sad moments. I believe that, on the contrary, it is much less sad than a natural and slow death.“, she said of euthanasia. Her family, being aware of Colette’s departure, admits to being sad at the idea of ​​her departure. So, she decided to extend her stay a little: “Some little girls thought it was very brave, but the majority were very surprised because obviously from an outside perspective I didn’t look like I was dying and I felt like I was being hardly, that’s why I extended.

The nonagenarian also lost her son, who died of cancer. It was with him that she decided to go to Switzerland, to go together. It was very difficult for her to accept this new loss, and that was another reason to cut this trip short. “I want to say that everyone should feel free to choose their end of life. And I understand very well that people who want to die peacefully do so. But let’s give freedom to those who want to move things forward a little.“, she affirms. Obviously, she also insists on the fact that this must be well supervised, it is essential. Furthermore, according to Colette, there is no reason for euthanasia to be reserved for people who can really afford it. Everyone should have a choice.

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